A swift intervention by the Congress has once again helped bring in a thaw in the Kerala Congress (M), which is battling chronic factionalism ahead of the Pala byelection on September 23.
Following a discussion with a five-member Congress committee led by UDF (United Democratic Front convener Benny Behanan, the KC(M) faction led by party working chairman P.J. Joseph on Tuesday backed out from its plans to launch a parallel campaign in Pala. The move comes in the wake of an assurance from the Congress that no attempts to provoke Mr. Joseph or his followers, as happened at an election convention last week, will recur.
According to party sources, the Congress is now slated to discuss the issue with the Jose K Mani faction as well, seeking an assurance from their side. “Though the decision to launch parallel campaigns now stands cancelled, there is no guarantee on Mr. Joseph coming to Pala again and canvassing for the UDF. It is now up to the Mani faction to make it clear which is most important for them — a victory in the coming election or the factional fight within,” they said.
Besides Mr. Behanan, senior Congress leaders and legislators K.C. Joseph and Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Kottayam DCC president Joshy Philip and KPCC secretary Joseph Vazhakkan also attended the discussion. The Joseph faction, on the other hand, was represented by Mons Joseph, MLA, and senior KC(M) leaders T.U. Kuruvila and Joy Abraham.
The Mani faction, on its part, too appeared keen on easing the standoff, at least for the time being. “The UDF stands united and its only focus is on electioneering works in Pala,” Mr. Mani told media persons, while refusing to queries on the factional fight.
The Joseph faction had decided not to be a part of the UDF campaign in the wake of an attempt to heckle Mr. Joseph by the rival faction at an election convention in Pala last week. The decision was also prompted by a controversial editorial appeared on Prathichaya , the party mouthpiece, which obliquely sought to cast aspersions on Mr. Joseph for his ‘image tussle’ with Mr. Mani.
